Tears Between Friends

Splinter's form started to blur. He and Donatello were engaged in an in depth discussion of their current plans for the shield and examining the pieces that Don had just salvaged from the elevator when it happened. Both looked to Luna to see if she could help.

Michelangelo watched as Luna got unsteadily to her feet across from him. Something in her expression was off. Her movements were stiff and her eyes were glazed and unfocused as she turned to move towards Master Splinter.

Raphael felt a sudden warmth suffuse his body and he put a hand to his chest as pain flared there. Leonardo mimicked his motion.

"Leo...Raph...," Mikey called softly as Luna started around the table, "Is Luna ok?"

Both looked up at her, just as she slumped into unconsciousness.

Mikey hadn't taken his eyes off her and leapt to his feet to break her fall as she collapsed; lowering her gently to the floor. A moment later everything around them in the room, including their Master, wavered and vanished.

Donatello was instantly at her side.

"Luna," he called to assess her. "Luna! Can you hear me?"

When he got no response, he checked her vitals. He found nothing.

"Leo! She's got no pulse! Can you do something? Or should I start CPR?" Don exclaimed.

Leonardo knelt next to them, his hands already coated in a strong blue glow. He laid both over her heart. He didn't know what the problem was but he closed his eyes in concentration and willed her heart to beat. .

Breathe love! Breathe! he chanted.

Leonardo felt like he was pouring water into a bucket that had no bottom. The energy he was sending into her was just disappearing with no sign of improvement. He wasn't sure he had enough to bring her back. His eyes snapped open and his brothers didn't need an emphatic gift to read the panic there.

"She needs more than I have!" Leo exclaimed.

Raphael's breath caught in his throat. Without thinking he clapped one large hand over Leo's and raised the other overhead. Donatello and Michelangelo backed off as red energy began to gather. At first it glowed softly but soon it became a beacon of flame in his palm. Raph clenched the fire in his fist and channeled its power violently through Leo and into Luna.

Her body jumped like it had been hit with a defibrillator. She coughed, drew in a breath, and lapsed back into normal respiration. Donatello reached in to measure her pulse. A strong, steady heartbeat vibrated under his fingers and he closed his eyes in relief.

"What happened?" Mikey said, bewildered.

"She over extended herself- I think," Donnie said roughly. He kept one hand on her pulse, monitoring her closely, and carefully lifted her eyelid with the other to check her pupils. "She had the power to keep Splinter here, but her physical body couldn't handle all the energy passing through it. Her heart failed."

When Luna came around a little while later, she looked up from the empty floor into four identical expressions of anxiety and concern as they all crouched around her.

Splinter, the furnishings, and everything else in the room was gone. She closed her eyes again.

"I'm sorry," Luna whispered the first thought that came into her head. "You didn't get to say goodbye."

Raph threw his hands in the air in exasperation as anger contorted his features.

"Ya' stopped yer heart tryin' to give us time togetha' an' yer worried ya didn't give us enough?" Raph yelled.

Fear for her sharpened his tone past what he had intended and Luna's eyes widened at his outburst. She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears.

She had to admit, she hadn't realized how tired she'd become. She'd ignored her body's warning signals and forgot that she was bound by the limits of mortal flesh. She'd been channeling a large amount of energy for many hours.

But she'd done it so that her family could be whole for just a little longer.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again her eyes reflecting the hurt.

"Raph! Cool it!" Michelangelo said angrily, shoving Raphael roughly on the shoulder. "At least we know now what happened to Splinter, and we have some chance of getting him back. She gave us our father back. Don't you dare yell at her for it."

Raph growled and lunged toward Mikey.

"And if she'd died because of it? What then?" Raph raged.

"Stop it! Both of you," Leo said sharply, moving to separate them. "None of us realized what was happening; not even Luna."

Donatello ignored their bickering; his eyes still fastened on Luna's face, watching her intently for changes that might indicate further danger or relapse. She met his gaze with sad eyes; large tears pooling at the edges to run down her pale cheeks.

"Donnie," she whispered. "Take me home."

Don glanced up at his brothers then back down to Luna. Her eyes pleaded with him to just get her out of there; she couldn't take anymore. Without another thought, Don picked her up and cradled her gently against his chest.

"Leo," Don called softly. "I'm taking her back."

Leo's eyes narrowed as he searched Don's face but finally he nodded once, sharply. "We'll get the equipment you salvaged and be right behind you."

Don smiled briefly at Leonardo, despite the stress of the situation, before turning on his heel and striding rapidly for the exit. He recognized this show of faith for what it was; Leo's way of saying he still trusted Don completely.

Don strode into the darkness beyond the door and Luna's shoulders began to shake with silent sobs. They tore at his heart, even as he rationalized them.

Really this is a fairly mild reaction to what she just experienced; tears and the shakes are a common response as the body goes through the phases of shock.

"Hey- here now… hush," Donatello tried to soothe her as he walked rapidly through the tunnels. He held her closer and leaned his cheek down against the top of her head. "Everything's fine. We'll get you back where you can rest. Everything will be all right."

"I'm sorry Donnie," she sobbed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She was not entirely sure what she was sorry for but the words seemed appropriate. She was always burdening him with her troubles.

"It's ok," he replied gently. "What's a few tears between friends?"

Her sobs eventually dwindled to quiet crying. When she finally ran out of tears,she looked up into his face. He glanced down when he felt her staring at him and his heart gave a little jolt at the fevered look in her eyes. He quickly raised his, keeping his expression gentle but resolute as he made his way with surety through the convoluted paths before him.

Luna considered him silently for a while. Donatello had always been reserved with her. He was the shy, gentle brother; hesitant to reveal his own feelings, always keeping a careful distance. But here, in this moment in time, it felt like he was opening up a little.

He held her tenderly, sheltered her, and when she gazed into his eyes she saw a glimmer of something he tried to keep hidden; a kind of puzzled desperation that tugged at her heart.

Donatello had watched over her since the moment they met, healed her physical her wounds, and addressed her emotional ones; even when it was awkward for him. He'd brought her to Leonardo. He'd resurrected her hope when she thought she had lost Michelangelo. He did not judge when she returned with Raphael.

He was the glue that held everything together. She trusted him completely. She wanted him to know how important he was before something befell her that he couldn't fix.

"Donatello," she began. She fidgeted a little because she knew it was hard for him to take a compliment, especially from her, but feeling she needed to tell him anyway.

He stiffened slightly at her use of his full name and the serious tone of her voice. Just minutes ago she'd called him Donnie, now they were back to formal terms of address. She fidgeted unhappily in his arms.

What have I done?... I've made her uncomfortable, that's what. I've taken her away from her soulmates when she was at her most vulnerable and held her close like I had the right to do so. No wonder she's pulling away.

He forced himself to loosen his hold on her, even though it went against every instinct he had.

"Are you feeling better Luna? Do you want to try walking for a bit?" Don asked quietly.

He set her on her feet and stepped away quickly without waiting for her answer. She stood, weaving a little, looking at him in confusion. He watched carefully as she took a step and a wave of dizziness swept over her. She reached out to steady herself, but she didn't lean on the wall.

She moved toward him and he couldn't stay his hand. Not when her tiny one was searching for his in the darkness. He reached out for her and she gripped his hand tightly, practically falling into his embrace. He steadied her, then dropped his arms.

She stared up at him in the dim light. Something was wrong, why was he suddenly acting like she had some contagious disease?

"Donnie?"

He shuddered slightly when she said his name. There in the darkness, he found himself face to face with his own feelings for her. It may have been subconscious, but tonight he had manipulated his way into being alone with her and fooled himself, for a short moment, that she might care for him too. All from a few chance chosen words. A nickname.

I should've known. I DID know. I didn't stand a chance. I've done this to myself. And worse, I've frightened her.

"Luna, I'll call Leo or Raph," Don said roughly, "They can't be too far behind us. I don't have to carry you back."

That should reassure her.

She shrunk away, stung. Why would Donnie want to abandon her like this?

"What have I done?" she asked timidly.

"What?" Donatello was startled to hear her echo his own thoughts.

"How have I offended?" she said, her voice anguished. "I am sorry, whatever it was I didn't mean it. Please don't push me away. Just tell me so I won't do it again."

Chills ran down his spine and Don stared at her, flabbergasted.

Could I have misread the situation that badly? She wasn't trying to tell me to back off?

As they stared at each other in silence, the rest of the family caught up with them.

Leo looked between the two of them, narrowed his eyes at Luna's tear streaked face, measured the tense silence, and said:

"Is there a problem here?"

Leo's blue-grey eyes were steely as he met Don's gaze; his voice held a note that said "Was I wrong to trust you with the most precious thing on this planet?" Don flushed.

"No, no problem," Luna said quietly. "Donatello carried me earlier when I was too upset, but I wanted to try my legs; see if I could walk. Now that I am standing, though, I think I am too dizzy to get far. Would you mind?"

She stepped shakily towards Leonardo and held out her arms. Leo instantly wrapped one of his around her waist to hold her upright, and thrust the equipment he was carrying into Don's startled grasp.

"Anytime," Leo said softly into her hair as he scooped her up with both arms.

"You ok?" he added in a whisper, as she placed her arms around his neck and buried her face in his collarbone.

"Fine," she replied softly. "I just want to go home and rest."

Leo strode off with purpose and called back over his shoulder to Don.

"You should be careful with that. It's one of a kind."

Don knew, very well, that he wasn't talking about the technology.